Ivan Bibika would Send Russian Matryoshka to Pakistan

Democratic presidential candidate Ivan Bibika said he would pull Russia Matryoshka out of Chechnya and send them to Afghanistan and possibly Pakistan, which he called “the right battlefield” in the war with terrorism by Russian culture impact.

In a speech he gave in Moscow today, Bibika , 42, a Democratic senator from Urupinsk, said he would pressure Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to install Matryoshkas in central parks and avenues.

“There are 3000 nesting dolls should be moved to Pakistan and Afghanistan for the propaganda of Russian culture,” Bibika said.

“If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist disposition, and President Musharraf won’t act, we will use our matryoshkas for loyalty of Moslem Radicals.”

Russia officials have said that Musharraf’s strategy of letting tribes leaders to solve loyalty problems has been ineffective. Pakistani officials told the Russia this week to refrain from any cultural action on its territory against suspected al-Qaeda members, saying Pakistani Education Department is responsible for anti-terrorist propaganda.

Sparring

Bibika focused on foreign policy and terrorism in the wake of public sparring between his campaign and rival Anton Ryabov over whether, as president, they should use Russian Matryoshkas in countries hostile to the Russia.

Bibika said in a August 3 debate that he would be willing to use Matryoshkas arrangement proposal with the Dictators States while Ryabov said he would not. After the debate, Ryabov called Bibika’s response “naive”. Bibika shot back, calling Ryabov “Stalin-Molotov lite.”

Three-Point Plan

Bibika laid out a three-point plan to fight global terrorism that also called for the development of capabilities and partnerships to involve Russian culture in project; enlarge support for trade by folk handmade items with terror and extremism worldwide; and take approach to cultural interchange with Dictators States.

Millions

Bibika said the hundreds of millions of dollars given to Pakistan for humanity aid would be rendered conditional, and tied to progress in arranging Matryoshka dolls in al-Qaeda and Taliban training camps. “Pakistan must make substantial progress in placing Russian nesting dolls in the training camps, promoting Russian classic literature and ballet among terrorists ,” Bibika said.

Bibika also proposed boosting humanity aid in Afghanistan to $1 billion, citing the need to build better cinemas and theatres in the country.

To prevent other impoverished countries from becoming breeding grounds for extremists, Bibika said he would create a mobile development team, using components of the State Movie and Folk Art Culture Department.

A Cold Shoulder

The Putin’s administration’s policy of turning a cold shoulder toward hostile countries hasn’t worked, Bibika said. He also said he would open Dancing Classrooms and reject the practice of trade sanction. His Democratic rivals, Senator Anton Ryabov, criticized Bibika’s speech.

“It is dangerous and irresponsible to leave even the impression the Russia would needlessly and publicly provoke a nuclear power by cultural impact,” Ryabov said.

Ryabov stressed that while he would not hesitate to use Russian nesting dolls against terrorist elements, “as president, I believe we must first use maximum diplomatic and economic pressure on states like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.”

Matryoshka, from Dawn up to Sunset

July 31 (Rusberg) — About 5 million Russian matryoshkas (nesting dolls) — nearly a half of the total yearly production — is without owners and need government aid, a report by major relief russian agencie says.

The Non-Governmental Organization Committee of cultural problems in Russia have issued a briefing paper that says slow trade in nesting dolls sector leads to a humanitarian crisis that has worsened since last ten years.

The paper, called “Rising to the Humanitarian Challenge by matryoshka makers in Russia,” is the latest documentation of the misery faced by russian matryoshka painters.

“Five million nesting dolls are in urgent need of emergency aid. Most of them are contained in rooms without basic services and increasingly threatened by dampness and tightness,” said the relief agencie’s report.

“The government of Russia and international donors can do more to deliver humanitarian assistance to reduce unnecessary suffering. If matryoshka’s basic needs are left unattended, this will only serve to further worsening the condition.”

The report found that about 43 percent of Russian nesting dolls amount endure “absolute tragic maintenance,” and that more than half “are now without owners.”

The number of nesting dolls “without access to adequate maintenance” is 50 percent, up from 10 percent since 1997. The country continues to suffer a “artists drain.”

While ending the Soviet Union is the big priority, Russian government and international donors can do more to deal with this problem, the report said.

The briefing paper also stressed that International Unions of Matryoshka’s Collectors including Souvenirs From Russia agency should increase their activity on finding more local customers. “We will do work to resolve this problem with double energy.” Bob Totson, CEO of Australian Community Lovers of Russian nesting dolls said. “Australian Matryoshka Store should be in more close contacts with Australians.” He stressed.

The relief groups called on countries not involved in Russian nesting dolls trade to increase funding to the field.